Leg exercise machine

ABSTRACT

A leg exercise machine includes a frame and a swinging mechanism. The swinging mechanism includes two parallel tubes, four swinging rods and two pedals. The tubes are supported on the frame. Each of the pedals is connected to two corresponding ones of the swinging rods. Each of the universal joints connects a corresponding end of a corresponding one of the tubes to an upper end of a corresponding one of the swinging rods.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to a leg exercise machine and, more particularly, to a leg exercise machine for allowing a user to do various exercises of legs.

2. Related Prior Art

While using a typical exercise machine, a user has to stop doing other things such as working or reading. A user cannot work or read with efficiency while using a typical exercise machine even if he or she tries. Hence, it is difficult for a user to exercise with a typical exercise machine for a sufficiently long period of time without being interrupted by other things.

Some exercise machines require users to stand while exercising with them. Such exercise machines are not suitable for helping physically weak users such as senior citizens or injured users to exercise for a sufficiently long period of time. Moreover, it is dangerous for such weak users to use such exercise machines.

To solve the above-mentioned problems, there have been devised some exercise machines such as those disclosed in Taiwanese Patent Nos. M447249 and M468337. Such an exercise machine includes two swinging elements connected to a chair and two pedals connected to the swinging elements. A user sets the feet on the pedals and exercises the legs. Such exercise is mild and often inadequate for a user to adequately exercise the legs.

The present invention is therefore intended to obviate or at least alleviate the problems encountered in prior art.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

It is an objective of the present invention to provide a leg exercise machine to allow a user to sit while using it.

It is another objective of the present invention to provide a leg exercise machine to allow a user to perform various exercises with it.

To achieve the foregoing objectives, the leg exercise machine includes a frame and a swinging mechanism. The swinging mechanism includes two parallel tubes, four swinging rods and two pedals. The tubes are supported on the frame. Each of the pedals is connected to two corresponding ones of the swinging rods. Each of the universal joints connects a corresponding end of a corresponding one of the tubes to an upper end of a corresponding one of the swinging rods.

Other objectives, advantages and features of the present invention will be apparent from the following description referring to the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The present invention will be described via detailed illustration of the preferred embodiment referring to the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a leg exercise machine according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the leg exercise machine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view of leg exercise machine the shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a user using the leg exercise machine shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the leg exercise machine of FIG. 1 in a first exercise;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the leg exercise machine of FIG. 1 in a second exercise; and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the leg exercise machine of FIG. 1 in a third exercise.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 3, a leg exercise machine includes a frame 10 and a swinging mechanism 20 according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. The frame 10 can be a stand located on a floor or a cantilever beam attached to a stool, a bench, a chair, a desk or a table. A user is allowed to exercise the legs by swinging the swinging mechanism 20 forward and backward, to the left and right, or in circles.

The frame 10 includes two struts 11 and 13. A crossbar 12 is connected to a lower end of the strut 11 by threaded bolts for example. A crossbar 14 is connected to a lower end of the strut 13 by threaded bolts for example. The crossbar 12 includes two ends provided with two anti-skid pads 120. The crossbar 14 includes two ends provided with two anti-skid pads 140. The anti-skid pads 120 and 140 are used to enhance stability of the frame 10 on the floor.

The strut 13 is pivotally connected to the strut 11 by a U-shaped element 15 and a pivot 16 so that the frame 10, which includes the first and struts 11 and 13, is movable between an opened position (FIG. 1) and a closed position (FIG. 3). In the opened position, the frame 10 forms an inverted V-shaped structure to be stably supported on the floor. In the closed position, the frame 10 can be stored with convenience. The U-shaped element 15 includes at least one adjustment aperture 17 for receiving a pin 18 to keep the first and struts 11 and 13 in a desired position relative to each other. The pin 18 can be pulled from the adjustment aperture 17 to allow pivoting of the struts 11 and 13 relative to each other.

The swinging mechanism 20 includes two tubes 21 and 22, four universal joints 23, four swinging elements 26 and two pedals 28. The tubes 21 and 22 are connected to the strut 11 of the frame 10. The tubes 21 and 22 extend parallel to each other.

Each of the universal joints 23 is connected to a corresponding end of a corresponding tube 21 or 22. Each of the universal joints 23 includes a shaft 24 and a ball 25. An end of the shaft 24 is inserted in the corresponding end of the corresponding the tube 21 or 22.

The ball 25 includes a semi-spherical shell 251 connected to another end of the shaft 24. The ball 25 is rotatable relative to the corresponding tube 21 or 22 because the shaft 24 is inserted in the corresponding tube 21 or 22.

Each ball 25 further includes a semi-spherical cover 255 pivotally connected to the semi-spherical shell 251. The semi-spherical cover 255 is operable to close and open the semi-spherical shell 251.

Each ball 25 further includes a bearing 252, an axle 253 and two clips 254. The bearing 252 is formed on an internal face of the semi-spherical shell 251. The axle 253 is supported on the bearing 252. The axle 253 is kept on the bearing 252 by the clips 254. The axle 253 extends perpendicular to the shaft 24.

Each swinging rod 26 includes a lug (not numbered) formed at an upper end inserted in a corresponding semi-spherical shell 251. Each axle 253 is inserted in the lug of a corresponding swinging rod 26 so that the swinging rod 26 can be pivoted about the axle 253, which extends parallel to the corresponding shaft 24. Each pedal 28 is pivotally connected to lower ends of two corresponding swinging rods 26.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 4 and 5, a user sits on a stool and sets his feet on the pedals 28 of the swinging mechanism 20 of the leg exercise machine. The user can exercise muscles in front and rear portions of his legs by using one foot to move one pedal 28 forward and using the other foot to move the other pedal 28 backward. In this exercise, the pedals 28 are moved forward and backward as the shafts 24 are rotated in the tubes 21 and 22.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 6, the user can exercise muscles in left and right portions of his legs by using his feet to spread the pedal 28 laterally. During this exercise, the pedals 28 are respectively moved to the left and to the right as the swinging rods 26 are pivoted about the axles 253, which are rotated on the bearings 252.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 7, the user can exercise the muscles in the front, rear, left and right portions of his legs by using his feet to move the pedals 28 in circles. This movement of the pedals 28 is a combination of the forward-and-backward movement with the left-and-right movement. In this exercise, the pedals 28 are as the shafts 24 are rotated in the tubes 21 and 22 while the swinging rods 26 are pivoted about the axles 253. This movement of the pedals 28 is rendered possible by the universal joints 23.

The present invention has been described via illustration of the preferred embodiment. Those skilled in the art can derive variations from the preferred embodiment without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the preferred embodiment shall not limit the scope of the present invention defined in the claims. 

1. A leg exercise machine comprising: a frame; and a swinging mechanism comprising: two parallel tubes supported on the frame; four swinging rods; two pedals each connected to two corresponding ones of the swinging rods; and four universal joints each for connecting a corresponding end of a corresponding one of the tubes to an upper end of a corresponding one of the swinging rods.
 2. The leg exercise machine according to claim 1, wherein each of the universal joints comprises: a shaft rotationally inserted in the corresponding tube; and a ball comprising: a semi-spherical shell connected to the shaft; a semi-spherical cover pivotally connected to the semi-spherical shell; and an axle rotationally inserted in the semi-spherical shell, wherein the axle extends perpendicularly to the shaft.
 3. The leg exercise machine according to claim 2, wherein each of the universal joints comprises a bearing formed on an internal face of the semi-spherical shell, wherein the axle is rotationally supported on the bearing.
 4. The leg exercise machine according to claim 5, wherein each of the universal joints further comprises at least one clip for keeping the axle on the bearing.
 5. The leg exercise machine according to claim 1, wherein the frame comprises two struts pivotally connected to each other.
 6. The leg exercise machine according to claim 3, wherein the frame further comprises two crossbars each connected to a lower end of a corresponding one of the struts.
 7. The leg exercise machine according to claim 4, wherein the frame further comprises four anti-skid pads each connected to a corresponding end of a corresponding one of the crossbars.
 8. The leg exercise machine according to claim 3, wherein the frame further comprises: a U-shaped element for holding one of the struts; and a pivot for connecting the U-shaped element to one of the remaining strut so that the struts are movable between an opened position and a closed position.
 9. The leg exercise machine according to claim 6, wherein the U-shaped element comprises at least one adjustment aperture located below the pivot, wherein the frame further comprises a pin inserted in the adjustment aperture to keep the struts at a desired position relative to each other. 